A past mistake

“I have a boyfriend.”

The words left Rhea’s mouth before she could stop them.

Melissa froze mid-motion, a stack of elegant white plates in her hands. For a second, the only sound in the luxurious beach villa was the distant crash of waves outside. Then the plates slipped from her mother’s fingers and shattered across the marble floor.

Rhea’s heart slammed against her ribs. She had planned to tell her eventually, but not like this — not while they were preparing dinner for the man her mother wanted her to accept as family.

The broken porcelain looked almost violent against the white floor. Rhea stared at the shards, her throat tight. The smell of garlic and herbs from the oven filled the air, but it suddenly felt suffocating. This weekend was supposed to be about her mother finally finding happiness. Instead, Rhea had just dropped a bomb right before their special guest arrived.

Melissa stared at the broken pieces for a long moment. She didn’t yell. She didn’t even look angry. Just… quiet. The kind of quiet that always made Rhea more nervous than shouting ever could.

“You…” Melissa let out a slow breath, pressing her lips together as if holding something back. “Since when?”

Rhea hesitated, fingers curling at her sides. “A few months.”

“A few months,” Melissa repeated softly, like she was testing the words. She gave a small, humorless smile. “So you’ve been lying to me for months.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Rhea said quickly. “I just… I knew how you’d react.”

Melissa let out a quiet laugh and crouched down to gather the shards. “Oh, I don’t need to react, Rhea. Life will do that for me.” She dropped a piece into the bin. “Men don’t come into your life gently. They come with promises and leave with pieces of you that you never get back.”

Rhea swallowed. “Not everyone is like that.”

Melissa didn’t look up. “That’s exactly what I used to say.”

Rhea hesitated, then muttered, “But… you have Alaric now.”

Melissa’s hand stilled.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze. The look she gave Rhea was sharp enough to cut.

The doorbell rang.

Melissa straightened up, smoothing her sundress. “That must be him. Go open the door. We’ll talk about this later when we get home tomorrow. I need to know who he is, Rhea. I want to meet him. Meet his family. We’re not doing secrets in this house.”

Rhea’s legs felt like lead as she walked to the entrance. She wiped her sweaty palms on her dress and pulled the heavy door open.

And the world stopped.

Standing on the threshold, framed by the golden evening light, was the most dangerously handsome man she had ever seen. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Sharp jawline with the faintest hint of stubble. Dark, piercing eyes that locked onto hers.

Alaric.

The same man she had met months ago on the worst night of her life — the night her first boyfriend had cheated on her. The night she had gone to that exclusive club, drunk and furious and reckless. The night she had flirted shamelessly with this stranger, practically thrown money at him like he was some high-end escort, and begged him to fuck her.

She remembered everything in a sickening rush.

His hands ripping her dress up. The way he had slammed her against the hotel wall. How deep and brutal he had taken her, growling filthy things in her ear while she moaned like a whore, coming harder than she ever had in her life. The way his body had dominated hers completely, the sting of his palm on her ass, the way he had made her beg for more even as tears of overwhelming pleasure slid down her cheeks. She had left before he woke up, too ashamed and satisfied to face him.

And now he was standing at her mother’s beach villa.

Before she could speak, Melissa appeared beside her, beaming.

“Alaric, darling! Come in.” She pulled him inside and turned to Rhea. “This is my daughter, Rhea. Rhea, say hello properly. Don’t be rude.”

Rhea couldn’t move.

Alaric’s lips curved into a calm smile as he extended his hand.

“It’s finally nice to meet you, Rhea,” he said, voice low and smooth. His fingers closed around hers, warm and firm. His thumb brushed across her knuckles. “I’ve been looking forward to this. Heard a lot about you from your mom.”

Electricity shot through her body. Rhea pulled her hand back as if burned wondering if he recalled her or not.

Dinner was pure torture.

Rhea barely touched her food. Every clink of silverware felt deafening. Across the table, Alaric sat relaxed and charming, answering Melissa’s questions with ease.

“So, Rhea,” Melissa said brightly, clearly trying to push them together, “Alaric also has a background in business. You two might have a lot in common.”

Rhea forced a tight smile. “Lucky me.”

Alaric’s gaze sharpened. “Your mother mentioned you recently applied for a new job. Which company?”

Rhea’s stomach dropped. “It’s… not important.”

Melissa laughed awkwardly. “She’s being modest. She applied for a position at a very good firm. We’re so proud.”

Alaric leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving Rhea. “Impressive. Maybe I know the company. What’s the name?”

Rhea’s grip tightened on her fork. “I’m just not interested in discussing it.”

Melissa shot her a quick look, surprised by the tone. “Rhea—”

“It’s fine,” Alaric cut in quietly.

That made it worse.

Rhea pushed her chair back slightly. “I’ll get more water.”

She didn’t wait for a response before standing and heading into the kitchen, her pulse racing the entire way.

The moment she stepped inside, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, gripping the edge of the counter.

This was a nightmare.

“Rhea.”

She froze at the sound of her mother’s voice.

Melissa stepped into the kitchen, her expression no longer warm.

“What was that?” she asked, voice low but firm. “Why are you being so rude to Alaric? He’s important to me, Rhea. I need you two to get along.”

Rhea turned slowly, heart pounding.

How was she supposed to explain that she couldn’t look at Alaric without remembering how it felt when he was buried deep inside her?